Palermo is the capital city of Sicily and is a potpourri of many cultures resulting from a long and very eventful history. More than 2 millenniums of colonization by almost every Mediterranean power in the once island nation, it has accumulated a treasure trove of many great monuments, artefacts and social heritage including a very unique dialect. |
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The Great Cathedral founded by the Archbishop of Palermo
in 1185.
It was originally a Christian basilica turned into
a mosque and then Catholic Church under the Normans. |
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Inside the Cathedral houses the royal tombs
including Roger II, the 1st king of Sicily and
Henry VI,
Emperor of Germany and son
of Federick Barborassa. |
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The Norman church La Matorana (left) and chapel San
Cataldo (right) situated in Piazza Belini. Both have their
beginnings in the 12th century. |
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Teotro Massimo, the opera house inaugurated in 1897 ranked
highly among Europe’s historical theatres. |
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Porta Nuova erected in 1535 to commemorate
Charles V’s Tunisian exploits. |
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Porta Nuova on the other side. The grim faced, turbaned
and moustached figures depict
Tunisian slaves. |
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Monumental crossroad - Quattro Canti was
laid out in 1608-20 at the central
intersection of Via Maqueda and
Via Vittorio Emanuele. |
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Another corner of Quatro Canti
(also known as Piazza Vigilena). |
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San Guiseppe dei Teotini (side entrance)
built in 1612-45) with a detailed
baroque interior. |
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| Statue of Charles V in Piazza Bologni. |
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| Beautiful sculptures outside San Domenico church off Via Roma. |
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San Domenico church rebuilt in 1642,
restored and
served as burial place for
illustrious Sicilian in the 19th century. |